Rugged SUV maker Jeep officially announced plans to launch a Renegade EV in the US for under $25,000. However, industry experts believe the low starting price point may be hard to hit. Can Jeep deliver an electric Renegade for under $25K?
A new affordable Jeep EV is coming to the US
Jeep confirmed plans to launch a new Renegade EV during its Investor Day earlier this month. The electric SUV will start at under $25,000 as Jeep aims to revamp the brand in the US.
As part of the overhaul, the rugged SUV brand is returning to the small UV segment in North America. Jeep will add a new model every year over the next three years to build a 13-vehicle lineup.
By 2027, Jeep will launch six fully electric vehicles. These will include the Wagoneer S, Recon, a new mainstream UV, and the Renegade EV, which will start under $25,000.
The revamped lineup will help increase market coverage in North America from 45% in 2023 to 85% in 2027.
Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares told investors last month that a $25,000 EV was coming to the US very soon. “If you ask me what is an affordable BEV, I would say 20,000 euros in Europe and $25,000 in the US,” Tavares explained.
Jeep plans electric Renegade for under $25,000 (Source: Stellantis)
Like the $21,500 (20,000 euro) Citroen e-C3, launched in Europe, the US “will have a $25,000 Jeep very soon,” Tavares said.
Is a $25,000 Jeep Renegade EV possible?
Although Jeep dealers say an affordable electric Jeep Renegade would likely sell, can the brand deliver it for under $25,000?
Stellantis dealer Ralph Mahalak Jr. would welcome a low-cost electric Jeep. Mahalak owns six dealerships in Ohio, Michigan, and Florida.
Jeep Recon electric SUV (Source: Stellantis)
“If it’s inexpensive and competitive with all the other the little EVs in that price class and that size class, obviously I’m up for it,” he told Automotive News.
Mahalak explained that the model would need 200 to 300 miles range to compete in the US market.
According to global auto forecasting firm AutoForecast Solutions, Jeep may have a hard time hitting its price target. The firm does not expect Jeep to build the Renegade EV in North America, which would disqualify it from receiving federal incentives.
Jeep Wagoneer S Trailhawk concept (Source: Jeep)
“The way it’s laid out right now, it’s either going to come from Poland, which is most likely, or Brazil,” AutoForecast Solutions VP Sam Fiorani said.
Either way, Fiorani explained, “it would not get IRA incentives on it, which makes it a wholly $25,000 vehicle,” which would be difficult to achieve.
Jeep Wagoneer S (Source: Stellantis)
Jeep could eliminate features or reduce interior quality to meet its target. However, it can’t go too cheap, or Jeep could hurt the brand.
Other industry analysts, like Edmunds’ Joseph Yoon, believe a Jeep Renegade EV could sell, even if it costs slightly over $25,000.
Jeep Wagoneer S Launch Edition Radar Red interior (Source: Jeep)
“If the Renegade comes in at, let’s say [$30,000] starting for the launch models, or maybe even [$35,000],” Yoon believes it could put up some numbers for Jeep. But, again, Jeep can’t cut too many corners regarding range, features, and interior quality.
Electrek’s Take
Jeep plans to enter the affordable EV segment in the US (and globally) as part of a wider brand overhaul.
Jeep’s US sales slipped 6% last year after falling 12% in 2022. After sales peaked in 2018, reaching nearly 1 million, Jeep has struggled to gain momentum.
Jeep CEO Antonio Filosa believes Jeep’s new electric models can help turn things around. The new Wagoneer S, unveiled last month, will compete with the best, including Tesla. Filosa said “Something like 100% will be conquested,” regarding Wagoneer S sales.
“The brands we are targeting are mainly Tesla… but there are many others,” Jeep’s chief boasted earlier this month.
Meanwhile, most rivals are also targeting the low-cost EV segment at this point. Kia opened orders for its EV3, starting at $30,700 (KRW 42.08 million), in Korea earlier this month.
Although Volvo EX30 deliveries are delayed again for the US, the compact electric SUV starts at $35,000 with deliveries now slated to begin next year. In Europe, the EX30 is already off to a hot start.
Chevy’s new Equinox EV is rolling out, with a $35,000 model coming later this year. Volkswagen, Ford, Hyundai, and several others are all looking to capitalize on the climbing demand for low-cost EVs.
Would you buy a Jeep Renegade EV for under $25,000? What about $35,000? Let us know what features and range you would expect in the comments below.
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Most Wall Street analysts covering Tesla’s stock (TSLA) badly misread the automaker’s delivery volumes this quarter. Some of them have started releasing notes to clients following Tesla’s production and delivery results.
Here’s what they have to say:
According to Tesla-compiled analyst consensus, the automaker was expected to report “377,592 deliveries” in the first quarter.
Truist Securities maintained its hold rating on Tesla’s stock, but it greatly lowered its price target from $373 to $280 a share. They insist that while their earnings expectations have crashed because they overestimated deliveries, investors should focus on Tesla’s self-driving effort, which they see as “much more important for the long-term value of the stock.”
Goldman Sachs lowered its price target from $320 to $275 a share. The firm expected 375,000 deliveries from Tesla in Q1 and therefore had to adjust its earnings expectations with almost 40,000 fewer deliveries.
Wedbush‘s Dan Ives, one of Tesla’s biggest cheerleaders, called the delivery results “disastrous”, but he reiterated his $550 price target on Tesla’s stock.
UBS has reiterated its $225 price target which it had lowered last month after adjusting its delivery expectations in Q1 to 367,000 – one of the more accurate predictions on Wall Street.
CFRA‘s analyst Garrett Nelson reduced his price target from $385 to $360 a share.
Electrek’s Take
I find it funny that most of them are maintaining or barely changing their expectations after they were so wrong about Tesla in Q1.
If you were so wrong in Q1, you should expect to be incorrect also for the rest of the year, and readjust accordingly.
But Cantor is invested in Tesla, and the firm is owned by Elon’s friend, who happens to now be the secretary of commerce. Truist still believes Elon’s self-driving lies, Goldman Sachs overestimated Tesla’s deliveries by the equivalent of $2 billion in revenues, and Dan Ives is Dan Ives.
Covering Tesla over the last 15 years has confirmed to me that most Wall Street analysts have no idea what they are doing – or at least not when it comes to companies like Tesla.
Do you know any who have been consistently good lately? I’d love suggestions in the comment section below.
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The global market rout on Thursday, sparked by President Donald Trump’s announcement of widespread tariffs, had an outsized effect on fintech companies and credit card issuers that are closely tied to consumer spending and credit.
Affirm, which offers buy now, pay later purchasing options, plunged 19%, while stock trading app Robinhood slid 10% and payments company PayPal fell 8%. American Express and Capital One each tumbled 10%, and Discover was down more than 8%.
President Trump on Wednesday laid out the U.S. “reciprocal tariff” rates that more than 180 countries and territories, including European Union members, will face under his sweeping new trade policy. Trump said his plan will set a 10% baseline tariff across the board, but that number is much higher for some countries.
The announcement sent stocks reeling, wiping out nearly $2 trillion in value from the S&P 500, and pushing the tech-heavy Nasdaq down 6%, its worst day since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
The sell-off was especially notable for companies most exposed to consumer spending and global supply chains, including payment providers and lenders. Fintech companies that rely on transaction volume or installment-based lending could see both revenue and credit performance deteriorate.
“When you go down the spectrum, that’s when you have more cyclical risk, more exposure to tariffs,” said Sanjay Sakhrani, an analyst at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, citing PayPal and Affirm as businesses at risk. He said bigger companies in the space “are more defensive” and better positioned.
Dan Dolev, an analyst at Mizuho, said bank processors such as Fiserv are less exposed to tariff volatility.
“It’s considered a safe haven,” he said.
Affirm executives have previously said rising prices might increase demand for their products. Chief Financial Officer Rob O’Hare said higher prices could push more consumers toward buy now, pay later services.
“If tariffs result in higher prices for consumers, we’re there to help,” O’Hare said at a Stocktwits fireside chat last month. Affirm CEO Max Levchin has offered similar comments.
However, James Friedman, an analyst at SIG, told CNBC that delinquencies become a concern. He compared Affirm to private-label store cards, and pointed to historical trends in credit performance during downturns, noting that “private label delinquency rates run roughly double” in a recession when compared to traditional credit cards.
“You have to look at who’s overexposed to discretionary,” he said.
Affirm did not provide a comment but pointed to recent remarks from its executives.
Wait, Mazda sells a real EV? It’s only in China for now, but that will change very soon. The first Mazda 6e built for overseas markets rolled off the assembly line Thursday. Mazda’s new EV will arrive in Europe, Southeast Asia, and other overseas markets later this year. This could be the start of something with a new SUV due out next.
Mazda’s new EV rolls off assembly for overseas markets
The Mazda EZ-6 has been on sale in China since October with prices starting as low as 139,800 yuan, or slightly under $20,000.
Earlier this year, Mazda introduced the 6e, the global version of its electric car sold in China. The stylish electric sedan is made by Changan Mazda, Mazda’s joint venture in China.
After the first Mazda 6e model rolled off the production line at the company’s Nanjing Plant, Mazda said it’s ready to “conquer the new era of electrification with China Smart Manufacturing.”
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The new global “6e” model will be built at Changan Mazda’s plant and exported to overseas markets including Europe, Thailand, and other parts of Southeast Asia.
Mazda calls it “both a Chinese car and a global car,” with Changan’s advanced EV tech and Mazda’s signature design.
Mazda 6e electric sedan during European debut (Source: Changan Mazda)
Built on Changan’s hybrid platform, the EZ-6 is offered in China with both electric (EV) and extended-range (EREV) powertrains. The EV version has a CLTC driving range of up to 600 km (372 miles) and can fast charge (30% to 80%) in about 15 minutes.
Mazda’s new EV will be available with two battery options in Europe: 68.8 kWh or 80 kWh. The larger (80 kWh) battery gets up to 552 km (343 miles) WLTP range, while the 68.8 kWh version is rated with up to 479 km (300 miles) range on the WLTP rating scale.
At 4,921 mm long, 1,890 mm wide, and 1,491 mm tall, the Mazda 6e is about the size of a Tesla Model 3 (4,720 mm long, 1,922 mm wide, and 1,441 mm tall).
Mazda said the successful rollout of the 6e kicks off “the official launch of Changan Mazda’s new energy vehicle export center” for global markets.
The company will launch a new SUV next year and plans to introduce a third and fourth new energy vehicle (NEV).
Although prices will be announced closer to launch, Mazda’s global EV will not arrive with the same $20,000 price tag in Europe as it will face tariffs as an export from China. Mazda is expected to launch the 6e later this year in Europe and Southeast Asia. Check back soon for more info.
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